20demayo Chapter 1134 I'm as confident as you
Chapter 1134 I'm as confident as you
"Gudong, gudong, gudong."
Inside a dining room at the Shihmen Chamber of Commerce.
They were also having hot pot here, and four people were sitting around a table. Two of them were clearly Japanese, judging from their attire.
An older man sat at the lower end of the table. He wore a small black satin cap adorned with a large ruby, had a mustache, and was thin. He looked somewhat anxious and said to a man in his fifties at the head of the table, “Chairman Ren, you need to think of something. That old bastard Zhang Guanqun is claiming illness and refusing to come out. He's clearly trying to avoid this. He's shameless. I heard he even sent his granddaughter to Lin Ze's room. What about us? Since Lin Ze arrived, he's turned the Military Police Headquarters upside down. I heard even Lieutenant Colonel Furukawa was arrested. What about us… should we just pay to avoid trouble, or what? Chairman Ren, you need to make a decision.”
Chairman Ren, whose full name is Ren Hong, is the head of the Shimen Chamber of Commerce. His family used to be in business. Later, he sent his son to study in Japan and got to know some small capitalists there. After returning to China, he started a trading company and became a comprador for the Japanese. He made more and more money, and Ren Hong's status rose accordingly. After the fall of Hebei, Uchida Eisuke came to Shimen, and Ren Hong quickly joined him. Uchida Eisuke also took advantage of the situation and appointed him as the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.
Ren Hong's eyes were bloodshot. He hadn't had a good night's sleep since Uchida Eisuke died.
He used to worry that other businessmen, especially Japanese businessmen, might swarm him and seize his assets once his patron died.
Now we don't need to worry anymore, because a dragon from across the river has arrived, and it seems like they're going to take everything!
With a hoarse voice, Ren Hong looked at a Japanese man to his right and asked, "Mr. Nishimura, your company also has close ties with the headquarters. Now that the headquarters is in turmoil, what are your thoughts?"
Shunichi Nishimura, president of the Nishimura Trading Company, is involved in trade and kerosene business. There's nothing wrong with trading, but kerosene is both a necessity and a strategic resource, so it's not something he can do.
“Ren-san, I’m just a businessman. I’ll do business the same way I did before. Besides, although my Nishimura family isn’t a big family, we still have some influence. I don’t want to get involved in the headquarters’ affairs, and the headquarters has no right to interfere with my business.”
This is how it's cut.
Shunichi Nishimura wasn't stupid. His group used to revolve around Eisuke Uchida, but now that Uchida was dead, a so-called investigator had arrived.
Then you have to prepare to show your respect. This is an unspoken rule, a rule that everyone follows, from the past to the present and into the future.
But Nishimura believed that you traitorous businessmen who curry favor with Uchida would have to bleed a lot of money, so why should I, a Japanese businessman, give up a part of my business?
It seems like I can do business even without Eisuke Uchida, right?
The gaunt old man grew anxious, "Mr. Nishimura, you can't say that! Your Nishimura Trading Company is also a member of our trading association..."
Nishimura Shunichi stood up and said, "Excuse me, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
Then, the Japanese man sitting opposite him also stood up, and Ren Hong said angrily, "Does Yano-kun have something to say too?!"
Yano Masahiro, the head of Shimen Textile Factory, was a little embarrassed upon hearing this, "I've always been in the spinning business..."
Ren Hong slammed his fist on the table. "Yano! How did you get that yarn factory?! It used to be the Daxing Yarn Factory, which belonged to the Zhang family! Later, Uchida came, the yarn factory was taken over by officers, and the entire Zhang family was killed. Then you were put in charge of the yarn factory, and as you managed it, it became yours. Do you think we don't know that? If we really settle accounts, do you think that Lin guy will let you off the hook?!"
Yano Masahiro was speechless, stamped his foot, and sat down again.
"He can't just ignore it like that, can he? We're Japanese businessmen..."
Ren Hong said coldly, "I heard that this Commander Lin ordered the execution of over a hundred Japanese ronin..."
Nishimura Shunichi, who had already reached the door, turned back and said arrogantly after hearing this, "What are ronin? You can kill them and that's it. But behind us stands a family! You guys continue your discussion. I'm going back to the trading company. A bribe? I won't give him a single yen!"
That night, many people in Shimen couldn't sleep.
Lin Ze collapsed.
Niu San'er came to report: "Sir, Ren Hong from the local chamber of commerce has arrived and says he wants to visit you."
Have you investigated this Ren Hong?
"He did a lot of heinous things. He used to mine coal in the south, hiring many people but not paying them. Some people simply became his slaves. If anyone dared to cause trouble, he would say they were rebels and ask the military police headquarters to suppress them. Once, he publicly hung up several disobedient people and skinned them alive."
"Peel it..."
Lin Ze thought for a moment, then said, "Let him go back."
Ren Hong was turned away.
After returning home, Ren Hong was filled with anxiety. When the comprador's son came to comfort him, he said, "Dad, why are you so scared? We have so much money in the Yokohama Specie Bank. If he really dares to do something reckless, we can just leave. We can go to Shanghai or Japan!"
Ren Hong sighed and looked at his ornately decorated house. "I can't bear to part with this family fortune!"
“Dad, we didn’t have this family fortune before. As long as we have money, we can make a comeback. My classmates in Japan are not ordinary people either. Now that Uchida is dead, we can just find another powerful figure to rely on!”
That night, Shimen was very quiet, which put some people at ease.
The next morning, Zhang Guanqun, who had been claiming to be ill, suddenly summoned everyone to the station to welcome an important person.
Many people wondered, since Lin Ze was in Shimen, who was he going to the station to meet this time?
Later, rumors circulated that General Okamura had sent a special envoy!
Yano Masahiro and the others were overjoyed!
"Yosh! Yosh! I knew the Army wouldn't sit idly by in this situation. Did they really want Lin Ze to turn Shimen upside down? Now look what's happened, even the General has been alerted. If he sends someone to reprimand Lin Ze, let's see how Lin Ze can continue causing trouble!"
"Yes, he really took a trivial matter seriously. I heard he made a mess of the Shimen Military Police Command, and many officers are still in jail. Too much of a good thing is bad!"
"Let's go, let's hurry to the station!"
Around 11 a.m., these traitors, gentry, and Japanese merchants gathered at the station.
Ren Hong had recovered and, upon seeing Zhang Guanqun, even made a sarcastic remark, "Oh, Chairman Zhang, I heard you were unwell, but you seem quite robust today! I happen to have a bear gallbladder; would you like to take it? They say you are what you eat!"
Zhang Guanqun smiled and wasn't angry at all.
You're saying I'm cowardly?
If I hadn't personally witnessed how Director Niu reported to Commander Lin that day, I wouldn't be as confident as you guys!
………………
P.S. 2025 is almost over. Throughout the year, it was the companionship and support of all of you readers that motivated me to continue writing. Whether it was encouragement or criticism, it all came invaluable. Rather than saying I wrote this book, it's more accurate to say that I co-created it with you all. Thank you!
On the occasion of the New Year, I extend my sincere holiday greetings to all my readers. I wish you good health, family happiness, academic success, career advancement, and great achievements in the new year!